Sound-reproducing machine.



L. P. JACKSON. souwo REPRODUCWG MAcHmE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5, 1912. 1,232,924. Patented July 10, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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SOUND REPRODUCING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 5.1912.

1 332,924. Patented July 10, 191?.

2 SHEEYSSHEET 2.

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SG'UND-YBEPRODUCING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 10, 19313.

Application filed July 5, 1912. Serial No. 707,889.

To all "whom it may concern:

e it known that 1, Louis P. JACKSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sound-Reproducing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in sound reproducing machines and has for its object the provision of an improved machine of this character in which the distinctness with which the sound is reproduced is increased and which is more simple in construction and convenient of operation and adjustment than those heretofore known.

One of the objects of my invention isto provide an improved sound distributing disagreeable noises and is evenly diffused throughout the surrounding space. In one aspect my invention comprises an impel-forate bell-shaped sound diffuser into the crown of which the soundis. conveyed from the reproducer. By constructing fuser in this way and having the entire vibrating surface free to vibrate a remarkably even distribution of the sound is effected. In another aspect my. invention consisting mainly in the provision of a diaphragm'and other members of lignum vitae or similar material. Cushion members of chamois skin or the like are likewise provided, together with other improvements in the reproducer. Other features of my invention comprise improved speed varying means whereby the machine may be adj listed for records of different periods in addition to other features including animproved support for the cylinder. Other objects and purposes of my invention will appear in the course of the following specification in which I have shown my invention embodied in concrete form for purposes of illustration.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a front View of my complete machine; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof Fig. 3 is a sectional view of my reproducer; Fig. 4 is a front View of the same; Fig. 5 is a side elevation partly in section of the cylinder and driving mechanism; and Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are details of'various parts. v

crank 11.

. predetermined position.

the dif- Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, l0 represents-a box containing the driving mechanism (not shown) which is wound up by a 12 is the cylinder on which is mounted the record 13. 14 is the reproducer. 15 represents a device for stopping the motor mechanism when the record reaches a One of the main features of my invention is shown in these figures and consists of the sound diifusin This means comprises a sound difwhich is bell shaped and is preferably made of thin metal, as for instance, brass or aluminum spun into the proper shape. This bell shaped diffuser is imperforate and has nothing in contact with it at any point to stop the vibrations except at .the crown 17 where it is supported. By

constructing the diffuser in this way it will does so as to evenly vibrate just as a bell distribute the sound throughout the sursound vibrations are rounding space. The delivers to the sound diifuser through a tube or horn 18 which is secured to the rewhich is connected to the crown of the bell.

by a wing nut 21, while the opposite end is rigidly secured to the tube 18 at 22 by brazing or otherwise. This support is pivoted, as shown enlarged in Fig. 9, by means of a downward projection 23 mounted in the bracket 24. I he projection is pivoted so as to move in the plane of the paper and a nut 25 is provided to lock the same in p The support is also attached to the bracket 24 by a spring 26 by means of hooks on these two members so as to yieldingly hold the sound difl'user in position. The bracket 24 is pivoted in another bracket 27, turn is pivoted to the box 10.

through the tube18 and gradually expand until the diffusing bell is reached, whereupon The advantage of having the bell lmperforate and out of contact throughout its vibrating portion are obvious, since the purpose.

bell is thereby free to vibrate and sounds are therefore reproduced in a full and clear manner.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I have shown my 1mproved reproducer. One of the main features of this reproducer consists in employlng material such as lignum vitae or the like, for constructing certain parts thereof. The construction of this reproducer will be clear from inspection of Figs. 3 and 4, in which it will be seen that the reproducing lever 28 is pivoted to a circular member 29 of metal such as brass or the like, which in turn is pivoted at 30. This member 29 has a conical opening therethrough through which the chain 31, consisting of two links, passes fromthe lever 28 to the diaphragm 32. This diaphragm is preferably of lignum vitae or the like and is provided with two stops 33 for reducing or modifying the vibration of the diaphragm. I have selected lignum vitae as the material for the diaphragm because of its peculiar qualities which fit it in a remarkable manner for this Moreover, it is unafi'ected by moisture and changes of temperature and retains its qualities indefinitely. The chain 31 is secured to the center of the diaphragm at 34 so that the vibrations of the lever will be transmitted to the diaphragm. A cover 35 to which the born 18 is secured is'likewise preferably made of lignum vitae. The diaphragm is cushioned between the cover 35 and the frame of the reproducer by washers 36 of chamois skin or the like. This material I have found to be very satisfactory for this purpose, since it is softand flexible and does not deteriorate with age. A lever 37, bent as shown, is pivoted at-38 so that its free end extends into proximity with the member 29. and the opposite end is adapted to be operated to lift the member 29 and therefore the reproducing lever out of engagement with the record. This lever is frictionally held in the clamp 39 so that it must remain in any position in which it is left by the operator. I also provide a hook-shaped finger 40 for supporting the member 29 when the reproducer is removed from the. frame.

Referring now to Fig. 5 it will be seen that I have provided improved means for driving the cylinder and varyingthe speed thereof. As is well understood in the art, some records are of longer period than others. For instance, there are two minute records andfour minute records. In order to cause the cylinder to travel at the proper rates corresponding to these different records without changing the speed of the motor I have provided the arrangement shown. It will be noted that in my machine the cylinder travels while the reproducer re mains stationary. The cylinder is caused to travel by means of a screw 41 which eX- members from which gearing may tends between the supports 42 and 43 in which it is supported on centers. Surrounding the screw is the drum 44 which is driven by a pulley 45. This pulley is secured to the drum and has a bearing in the support 46. The drum likewise has a ball bearing on the conical end 47 of the screw and a similar bearing at 48. By driving the pulley the cylinder will be rotated on the bearings described. Mounted upon the drum 44 so as to slide longitudinally thereof is the cylinder 49. In order to rotate this cylinder and at the same time drive it longitudinally of the tube I provide the construction shown in Fig. 5 and shown in cross'section in Fig. 8. This consists of two pivoted members 50 which engage the thread of the screw so as to constitute a nut which travels longitudinally of the screw when the latter is rotated. These members 50 are pivoted to the cylinder at 51 and extend throughslots 52 in the drum. In order to disengage these is arranged to rotate independently of the main body of the cylinder and the ends of the members are pivoted to this cap at 54. It will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 5 that if the cylinder is turned slightly by grasping the knurled portion 55 (Fig. 5) at the same time grasping the cap 53 the members 50 will be turned on their pivots 51 so as to move the threaded portions out of engagement with'the thread of the screw. When the parts are released by the operator the springs 56 return the members to engaging position. The drum.44 is slotted at 57 to receive a pin 58 in the cylinder so as to positively drive it from the cylinder but permit it to travel longitudinally of the cylinder. By this arrangement it will be seen that when the pulley 45 is rotated, the drum 44 will be rotated and carry with it the cylinder and that the latter will bev moved longitudinally of the drum by the engagement of the members 50 with the thread of the screw 41. -In order to decrease the rate of longitudinal travel of the cylinder, I provide gearing which can be thrown into or out of operation at will for rotating the screw. It is obvious that if the screw is rotated in the same direction as the drum the longitudinal movement of the cylinder will be reduced, although the peripheral speed of the cylinder will remain the same. The gearing for accomplishing this purpose comprises a gear 59 which is secured to and always rotates with the drum and gearing from gear 59 to the screw,

be rendered operative or inoperative aS desired. Gear 59 meshes with a gear 60 which rotates freely on sleeve 61. A gear 62 is secured to the sleeve 61 and meshes with a gear 63 secured to the screw 41. A clutch 64 operated by a slidingrod 65 is adapted to lock gear 60 to the sleeve 61 the screw a circular cap 53 s of the sleeve.

in place. By

and t upon which it is mounted when the rod 65 's pulled outward. V

drum 44. This will obviously reduce the longitudinal travel of shown a brake for stopping the rotation of the cylinder. This con- SlSiJS of a pivoted brake sleeve 66 which is pressed into engagement with the drum by an eccentric lever 67. y pressing the lever the cylinder may be quickly stopped.

n Figs 5 and l have shown a con removing the supremove the record. This consists in pivoting the post 4-3 to a stationary part 68 so that it can be moved away from the drum. The post is locked in position by a sleeve 69. The part 68 and the lower end of the post are tapered to correspond with the taper 70 in the inside The tapered portions engage each other with a good fit so that by merely lifting the post to a vertical position from the position shown in Fig. 7 the sleeve will drop over the joint and lock the post tightly merely lifting the sleeve, therefore, the post can be moved on its pivot e. record removed. While I have deembodied in conand as operating in a specific manner in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, it should be understood that I do not limit my invention thereto, since various modifications thereof will sugwithout departing from the spirit vention, the scope of which is set forth in the annexed claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is 1. In a sound reproducing machine, the

combination with a reproducer and a support therefor, of an iinperforate bell-shaped sound diffuser supported so as to be free to vibrate, a sound conveying tube extending from the reproducer into the diffuser, and a supporting member secured to the crown of said diffuser and said tube and pivoted to said support.

In a sound reproducing machine, the combination difiuser to a point adjacent the support. 8. n a sound reproducing machine, the with a cylinder for receiving a record composed of two parts, a screw withextending longitudinally thereof, a threaded member cooperating with said screw and secured to the cylinder, and means whereby the member is released from the screw by a rotary movement of said parts with reference to each other.

separated to resame from the screw by a rotary cylinder parts with refer- 2D tapered portions to rigidly lock the post.

lfn witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 2nd day of July,

LOUIS P. JACKSON. Witnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL,

FRANK J. SEABOLT. 

